EU countries have reached an agreement on the bloc’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, but the deal was made possible after Greece secured an exemption allowing it to continue supplying Russian gas to non-EU countries.
The compromise resolves the final dispute over a proposed ban on Russian gas exports outside the European Union. Under the agreement, contracts signed before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine will be allowed to continue, while EU companies will be prevented from signing new agreements, according to European diplomats.
Greece had opposed the original proposal, arguing that it went beyond previous EU decisions and would have little practical effect because vessels could simply change registration. Athens ultimately secured an exception that allows its shipping company Dynagas to continue transporting Russian liquefied natural gas from the Arctic region to customers outside the EU.
The exemption will limit Russian gas exports to previous supply levels and prevent EU-flagged vessels from increasing Moscow’s revenues. The arrangement will remain in place for one year and will be automatically extended unless EU governments decide otherwise during a review. Because EU sanctions require unanimous approval, ending the exemption could prove difficult.
